Zelda Awards 2026 Nominees: Women in Comics to Watch

With less than a week away, we want to congratulate all of the Zelda Awards nominees in their respective categories. The Zelda Awards will be held virtually on April. 11, 2026.

Created by Blaq Comic founder Karla “Moon” Medrano, the Zelda Awards are dedicated to spotlighting the brilliance and impact of women in the comic book industry. Medrano reveals that this ceremony was created by an undeniable fact: women have always contributed to the comic book industry by shaping stories, building worlds, and shifting the future of the medium.

Congrats to all the Zelda Awards Nominees

Here is the complete list of categories and nominees. To participate in and view the ceremony, click this link to subscribe and receive notifications.

Best Webcomic (all ages)

Kim Riot –  Willow & The Family Ace

Cammry Lapka –  George Smith: Paranormal Investigator of the PNW

Kaja Foglio- Girl Genius

Jihan A. Thomas – The Stolen Life of Henrietta Lacks

Dr. Ebony Toussaint – Crash Cart

Ashlee the Cartoonist – Flea Boy & The Weasel

Best Horror Webcomic 

Mary Landon- The Gray

Charlie Ragnarok – The Killer Kiss

Karen Hemmings –  LOVE. DEATH. EAT. REPEAT

Rebecca Coulthart – Cheapjack Gentleman

Pascalle Lepas –  Wilde Life

 Best Fantasy Webcomic  

Katie Hodges & Pam Bliss – The Extras

Matta Sorcier –  Sacrimony: A Tale of Love, Life and Death – In No Particular Order

Feather Mage –  Mage & Mimic

Meghan Gray –  The Croaking

J Hitz –  The Barrier Scroll

Taney Andrews – Seeds of Doubt

Best Sci-Fi Webcomic

NextJen – Coexistence

Willow White – Friends through the Cosmos

Kaja Foglio – Girl Genius

Hazel & Bell – Electric Bones

Best Manga

Marie Grousette – Pandemonium

Yamawe (illustrator) – Life Lessons from a UFO Catcher

Kaj Kunstmann – Nyakuza Noodle

Mai Matsuda – Hikaru in the Light

C.J McWillis – TezraTandum

Best Horror Graphic Novel

Meredith McClaren – Meat Eaters

Gigi Murakami – Resenter

Amy Chu & Soo Lee – Carmilla

Jazmine Joyner – Devour

Nihaarika Negi – Hunger

Best Fantasy Graphic Novel

N.S Kane – Your Highness

Ro Higashi – Half of the Crown

Ariela Kristantina – The Girl Who Draws on Whales

Jasmine Walls – The Last Session Volume 2

Madeleine Holly-Rosing – Morgana Pendragon

Deena Mohamed – Your Wish is My Command

Best Non-Fiction Graphic Novel

Rachel M. Thomas – Shrink

Emilia Strilchuk – Be Yourself

Lisa Burdige- Love Letters, Every Day

Shayna Jones – Haymer University

Amy Kurzeil – Artificial: A Love Story

Best Sci-Fi Graphic Novel

Jacqui Venturini – Outer Spaced

M’Shai Dash – Fumes

Wendy Xu – The Infinity Particle

Mindy Indy – Aer Head

Best Superhero Graphic Novel

Jamie McAfee – Alexis Wyle

Natosha Jones – The Grey

Ashley Paige Van-De-Cruize Lampkin – Na’Makasi

Agnes Garbowska – DC Super Heroes

Dr. Angelique Roche – Life Dream

Shea Fontana – DC Super Heroes

Best Children’s Graphic Novel

Shequeta Smith – Young Grandmaster Choi

Meredith McClaren – Crumble

Stephanie Cook – Pillow Talk

Sharee Miller – Curl Friends

Katie Shaw- Dragon Child

Vera Brosgol – Plain Jane & the Mermaid

Best Children’s Horror Graphic Novel

Kayden Phoenix – Witchtober

Beatrice Robbins (artwork) – Ghost Story Saga Arthur’s Journey

Whitney Gardner- Free Piano

Jessica Maison Judd – Mary Shelley’s School for Monsters

Best Pencils & Inks

Chyna Rosemarea – Today is Different

Ryan Oakley – Ride to Acceptance

Asian Fulmore – Temporal

Lorna Dining – Charlie Sparks Paranormal Investigator

Yko – Jane Jet

Skylar Partridge – Finders Keepers

Francesca Fantini – Can I Scream

Anna Wieszczyk – Mary Shelly’s School for Monsters

Best Cover

Tahilla & Tiah Ankum – Fumes

Mikayla Moore – The Gray Issue 3

Sana Takeda – Monstress 45

Juliet Nneka – Roots of Madness 4

Luisina Módica – Crystal Clear Pyro

Tarcila Neeves – Queen Bee

Carla Wyzgala – Skull Masquerade

Angela Wu – SOL – The Ballad of Eternity

Jan Apple – Disney’s Mirrorverse

Best Colorist

Xenon Honchar – 30 Days of Night: Falling Sun

Bex Glendining – On Starlit Shores

Hai Kucifer – Chiropetera

Sabine Rich – Fight Girls

Gaby Zermeno – Flesh Fix

Bia Navarro – Disinter

Best Letterer

Ariana Mahar – Zatanna and the House of Secrets

Saida Temofonte – Press Guardian # 1

Lydia Mieses-Monette – Fennec

Next Jen – Coexistence

Jodie Troutman – Star Trek Red Shirts

Becca Carey – Temporal

Shayna Jones – Hamer University

Best Single Issue

Jazmine Joyner – Devour

Madeleine Holly Rising – Morgana Pendragon Issue #1

Natosha Jones – The Grey #3

Weyoldi Oldbear – The Clock

Janice Dennie – Chalawan Uranus

Best Series

Natosha Jones – The Grey

Madeleine Holly Rosing – Boston Metaphysical Society: Mystery at Pikes Peak

Jacque Aye – Monster High

N.S Kane – Queen Bee

Stephanie Williams – Roots of Madness

Matta Sorcier –Sacrimony

Rebecca Coulthart – Cheapjack Gentlemen

Best Writer

Stephanie Williams

Matta Sorcier

Madeleine Holly Rosing

Queen Bee

Rebecca Coulthart

Natosha Jones

Best Emerging Trailblazer

Emilia Stritchuck

Dr. Ebony Toussaint

Ashley Van de Cruize Lampkin

Angela Wu

Next Jen

Ryan Oakley

Spirit of Zelda Alwards  

Queenie Chan

Kaja Foglio

Nicola Scott

Francesca Fantini

Rachel Dukes

Afua Richardson

Barbra Dillon

Karen Hemmings

Tee Franklin

Ink the Future 

Kayden Phoenix

Stephanie Williams

Shequeta Smith

Stephanie Cooke

Regine Sawyer

Natosha Jones

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